Teeeitoet



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. D. GROOKER.

GRAIN SEPARATOR AND ELEVATOR FEEDER.

'No. 343,364. Patnted June 8, 1886.

" I ifiome y,

N PETERS. Fhclo-Lilhographar. wasrlin mn. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I B. D. OROOKER.

'GRAIN SEPARATOR AND ELEVATOR FEEDER.

No. 343,364. Patented June 8, 1886.

4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN D. GROCKER, OF WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

,GRAlN-SE-PARATOR AND ELEVATOR-FEEDER.

SFECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent No. 343,364, dated June 8,1886.

Application filed Ju y 2'7, 1885.

To (2) whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN D. CRooKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at WValla Walla, in the county of Walla Walla and Territory ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Separators and Elevator-Feeders; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to improvements in grain-separators, and isespecially adapted to elevators; and the objects are to clean and purifythe grain from chaff, small straws, smut, dust, and other impurities ina thorough manner by an upward air-current in expansion chambers orboxes arranged at certain intervals along a chute or inclined pipe,through which the grain passes.

The invention consists in the novel construction of certain details andthe arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and specificallypointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon.

V The same letters indicate the same parts in the different figures ofthe drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of theseparator attached to a bin and the chute with one expansion-chamberpartly broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of theexpansion-chamber, showing the side extensionboxes. Fig. 3 is across-section of the same on line 00 w of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of the grain-separator, partly in elevation. Fig. 5is a cross-section, on line y y of Fig. 4, through the chute and lookingtoward the grain-bin.

In the drawings, A represents part of a bin or storage-receptacle forgrain of any kind, having at its front end a narrow opening with aregulating-door, a, through which the grain passes onto a screen, B. Thescreen is supported on light flat iron rods 12, secured to the floor,thus rendering it capable of a slight springing or jarring motion whenacted on by the arm 0, extending to a cam, ratchet, or eccentric, d,mounted on the shaft 0, operated by a belt and pulley receiving motionfrom any suitable motive power. As the grain is shaken Serial No.172,738. (No modvl.)

by the jarring, the kernels fall through the perforations in the screeninto a receptacle or box, D, underneath screen 13, and the smut, lightdirt, 8m, are prevented from passing down with the grain, as they areblown out by an air-blast, which forms a cushion of air beneath saidscreen in the following manner: A rotary blower, E, supplies a blast ofair to the reservoir E, from which it is conducted by suitable pipes, e,to small boxesf on each side of the receptacle D. On the insides of theboxes f are openings covered with wire-netting g, which give vent to thevolume of air from the blower, and as the sides of the box D flareupwardly the draft has an upward tendency, and, coming from all sidesexceptthelower, it forms an air-cushion underneath the screen, findingexit through the perforations therein. This blast is merely ofsufficient power to prevent any light dirt, smut, small straws, dust,&c., from going through the openings in the screen, and to keep them ontop of the same until they are carried off the lower end by reason ofthe jarring motion given by the cam or ratchet After the grain has beenrelieved from all impurities that can be thus taken out by screening itfalls from the box into aspout, F, whence it may be conveyed to aweighingbin or to the head of the chute, hereinafter described. Theslight blast of air will also assist in drying damp grain.

The chute consists of a series of sections, G G G, made of wood ormetal, and of the form shown,Fig.1. It should be inclined at an angle ofat least twenty-five degrees. Each succeeding section occupies a lowerhorizontal plane than the preceding one, and is united thereto bychambers or boxes H, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The chambers orboxes H are also made .of Wood or metal, and vary in dimensionsaccording to the size of the chute. To the lower head of each box H,against which the grain will'strike, is attached a narrow strip orshelf, h, which is intended to hold a suflicient quantity of wheat orgrain to form a pyramid against the lower head of box H, and on whichthe descending grain falls and breaks its force, preventing any damageto the grain,by reason of striking a hard substance, or any wearing ofthe lower head of the box H. A space of sufficient size is left betweenthe strip h and the end h of the upper section of the chute to insure anexit for all grain that comes down the chute and is stopped by the lowerhead of the box H. Openings 2' are made in the sides of said box, whichlead to side boxes, 7., on the outside thereof, and thence to the nextsection, C". These boxes are intended to assist the egress of the grainstopped at h, so that the exit may not become clogged by a backward flowfrom the pyramid. The grain having been temporarily checked at h fallsoff from the pyramid on each side and passes out at openings 1', and bymeans of the boxes kenters the section G, continuing its descent to thenext expansion-chamber, &c. Any chaff, smut, &e., which have descendedwith the grain pass through the openings 0 or open top by the suddenexpansion of air in the chambers H, which tends to elevate or raise thelight dust, chaff, &e., and cause its escape. Any smut, &c., stilladhering to the grain will be loosened in passing through the chute byabrasion.

I am aware that grain-separators for elevators having inclined chutes inconnection with an airblast are old, and therefore do not claim such,broadly.

I do not claim herein the combination of the box having the overflowopenings, the shell, and the chute; nor the com bination,with the chute,the box, and the shelf, of aheap of Having described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A grain-separator for elevators, comprising a sieve, means forjarring the same, springrods upon which the sieve is supported, a

, blower, air-reservoir and pipes, a receptacle,

D, spout F, and a chute consisting of a series of sections provided withexpansion-chambers having openingsi and side boxes, k, all as and forthe purpose specified.

2. Agrainseparator for elevators, comprising a bin having a door, a,receptacle 1), a sieve, means for jarring the same, spring-rods b, ablower, an air-reservoir and pipes, and a chute consisting of a seriesof sections provided with expansion-chambers having openings 2', sideboxes, 7t, and shelves l1, upon which the descending grain is received,all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix inysignature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN 1). CROOKER.

Vitnesses:

H. M. CHASE, FRANK XV. PARKER.

